Serving officer dismissed following misconduct hearing

A serving police officer has been dismissed without notice following the conclusion of a misconduct hearing.

PC Avi Maharaj, 44, attached to the South West Command Unit, was dismissed after the hearing concluded on Monday, 9 September.

PC Maharaj had previously pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 16 July. He was subsequently sentenced to 12 months in prison. His conviction follows an IOPC independent criminal investigation.

The Chair AC Helen Ball found that PC Maharaj had breached the standards of professional behaviour in respect of Discreditable Conduct.

The allegations against PC Maharaj were proven as gross misconduct.

The panel gave a sanction of a dismissal without notice.

Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Holdcroft, from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, said: “We expect the highest standards of professional behaviour from all of our officers and staff and the actions of PC Maharaj fell far below that level.